Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the National Assembly, has expressed doubts over the chances of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2027 general elections, citing deep internal divisions within the party.
Speaking on Political Paradigm, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday, Kingibe said the Labour Party is currently too fractured to serve as a serious political platform.
“Labour Party is in some sort of a quagmire. We are trying to put it together, but I do not see the Labour Party in the present way it is as a vehicle that can win any election. It’s been very fractured and broken,” she said.
Although she confirmed she remains a member of the Labour Party, the senator revealed she has aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a new opposition coalition.
“Yes, I am still a member of the Labour Party, but I support the ADC,” she said.
Kingibe noted that the decision to back the ADC, especially in the upcoming FCT council elections, was based on the Labour Party’s internal leadership crisis, including its division into two factions.
“We needed a platform. The Labour Party would have been that platform, but it was broken. There are two factions of the Labour Party right now,” she added.
She said the ADC had credible candidates and a stronger structure, which made it a better option to contest and win elections in the FCT, especially against the ruling APC.
When asked if she was considering dumping the Labour Party permanently, Kingibe said she might eventually leave if the internal crisis is not resolved.
The Labour Party gained major national attention during the 2023 elections with the popularity of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. However, internal leadership battles have since weakened the party’s structure in several states, including the FCT.